Outdoor unit of air conditioner

ABSTRACT

An outdoor air conditioner unit is connected to indoor units by a gaseous refrigerant communication pipe and a liquid refrigerant communication pipe. The outdoor air conditioner unit is provided with a gas-side shut-off valve and a liquid-side shut-off valve. The gas-side shut-off valve has a pipe connecting port to which the gaseous refrigerant communication pipe is connected. The liquid-side shut-off valve has a pipe connecting port to which the liquid refrigerant communication pipe is connected. In a plan view, the pipe connecting ports are offset from each other in both the depthwise direction and the widthwise direction. Thus, the outdoor air conditioner unit is configured to reduce interference between the refrigerant pipes connected to the gas-side and liquid-side shut-off valves of the outdoor unit.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an outdoor unit for an air conditioner.More specifically, the present invention relates to an outdoor airconditioner unit that is connected to indoor units by a gaseousrefrigerant communication pipe and a liquid refrigerant communicationpipe.

BACKGROUND ART

Among the air conditioning systems used in office buildings andresidential buildings, split-type systems having an indoor unit and anoutdoor unit connected by communication pipes are widely used. Forexample, in the multi-split type air conditioning system(multiple-indoor-unit split-type air conditioning system) used in officebuildings, the outdoor unit is installed on the roof or other locationand the indoor units are installed in the ceiling or other location ofeach floor, the outdoor unit and indoor units being connected togetherby a gaseous refrigerant pipe and a liquid refrigerant pipe to form arefrigerant circuit.

The outdoor unit of such an air conditioning system has a gas-sideshut-off valve and a liquid-side shut-off valve at the terminal ends ofthe refrigerant circuit there-within. These shut-off valves are switchedfrom the closed state to the open state after the outdoor unit and theindoor units have been installed onsite and the gaseous refrigerant pipeand liquid refrigerant pipe from the indoor units are connected. As aresult, refrigerant can flow between the outdoor unit and the indoorunits.

In a conventional air conditioning system, the gas-side shut-off valve118 and the liquid-side shut-off valve 119 of the outdoor unit 102 arearranged side by side along the front panel 121 of the casing as shownin FIG. 7 or in front of and in rear of each other along the side panel122 of the casing (not shown). Since the two shut-off valves 118, 119are closely adjacent to each other, it is easier to complete the work ofapplying thermally insulating tape to the gaseous refrigerant pipe andliquid refrigerant pipe, which are connected to the pipe connectingports 118 a, 119 a of the shut-off valves 118, 119 and drawn out of theoutdoor unit, and the work of covering the valve area with a decorativemetal plate.

When the pipe connecting ports of the gas-side shut-off valve andliquid-side shut-off valve are aligned along one panel of the casing asshown in FIG. 7, there is not a problem if the refrigerant pipes aredrawn out of the outdoor unit in a direction perpendicular to saidpanel. However, if the pipes are drawn in a direction generally parallelto said panel, the pipes will interfere with each other unless they aredrawn out at different heights. While the problem of interference isresolved by installing the gaseous refrigerant pipe and liquidrefrigerant pipe at different heights, there are cases in which the twopipes cannot be installed at different heights due to space restrictionsor other conditions related to the installation work. The surroundingconditions differ at each installation site and there is no guaranteethat the conditions of a particular site will allow the pipes to bedrawn out in a convenient direction.

In such situations, the gaseous refrigerant pipe and the liquidrefrigerant pipe end up following a path that is bent more than wouldotherwise be necessary as a result of avoiding interference between thepipes. Consequently, the cost of installing the air conditioning systemand the time required for installation both increase.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to reduce interference betweenthe refrigerant pipes connected to the outdoor unit of an airconditioning system both in cases in which the refrigerant pipes aredrawn out in a direction parallel to the depth dimension of the outdoorunit (hereinafter described as “the depthwise direction”) and in casesin which the refrigerant pipes are drawn out in a direction parallel tothe width dimension of the outdoor unit (hereinafter described as “thewidthwise direction”).

According to a first aspect of the invention, an outdoor air conditionerunit is connected to indoor units by a gaseous refrigerant communicationpipe and a liquid refrigerant communication pipe and is provided with agas-side shut-off valve and a liquid-side shut-off valve. The gas-sideshut-off valve has a first connecting port to which the gaseousrefrigerant communication pipe is connected. The liquid-side shut-offvalve has a second connecting port to which the liquid refrigerantcommunication pipe is connected. In a plan view, the first connectingport and second connecting port are offset from each other in both thedepthwise direction and the widthwise direction.

In conventional outdoor units, the first connecting port and secondconnecting port are aligned in either the depthwise direction or thewidthwise direction. Consequently, when the connecting ports are alignedin the depthwise direction, the refrigerant communication pipes willinterfere with each other if they are drawn out in the depthwisedirection at the same height from the connecting ports. Meanwhile, whenthe connecting ports are aligned in the widthwise direction, therefrigerant communication pipes will interfere with each other if theyare drawn out in the widthwise direction at the same height from theconnecting ports.

Conversely, in an outdoor unit in accordance with the first aspect ofthe present invention, the first connecting port and second connectingport are offset from each other in both the depthwise direction and thewidthwise direction in a plan view. Since the connecting ports areoffset by a sufficient amount such that the refrigerant communicationpipes do not interfere with each other in a plan view when they aredrawn out from the connecting ports in the depthwise direction or in thewidthwise direction, the refrigerant communication pipes will notinterfere with each other in cases where the refrigerant communicationpipes are drawn out at the same height in the depthwise direction orcases where the refrigerant communication pipes are drawn out at thesame height in the widthwise direction.

Thus, an outdoor unit in accordance with this claim makes it possible toavoid interference between the refrigerant communication pipes connectedto the shut-off valves both in cases where the refrigerant communicationpipes are drawn out in the depthwise direction and in cases where therefrigerant communication pipes are drawn out in the widthwisedirection.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the outdoor airconditioner unit of the first aspect of the present invention isprovided, wherein the first connecting port and the second connectingport face in the same direction.

Since both connecting ports face in the same direction, the refrigerantcommunication pipes drawn out from the connecting ports can be thermallyinsulated and covered more easily. Also, the refrigerant communicationpipes connected to the shut-off valves can be installed withoutinterfering with each other when they are drawn out in the depthwisedirection or in the widthwise direction. As a result, the amount ofcurved portions of the refrigerant communication pipes can be held to aminimum.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the airconditioner outdoor unit of the first or second aspects of the presentinvention is provided, wherein the first connecting port and secondconnecting port are offset from each other in the depthwise andwidthwise directions in such a manner that the gaseous and liquidrefrigerant communication pipes connected to the connecting ports do notinterfere with each other when they are drawn out in the depthwisedirection with their widthwise positions maintained constant and theirheight positions arranged such that they overlap partially in a sideview. Furthermore, the first connecting port and second connecting portare offset from each other in the depthwise and widthwise directions insuch a manner that the gaseous and liquid refrigerant communicationpipes connected to the connecting ports do not interfere with each othereven when they are drawn out in the widthwise direction with theirdepthwise positions maintained constant and their height positionsarranged such that they overlap partially in a side view.

Since the first connecting port and second connecting port are offsetfrom each other in the depthwise and widthwise directions, workassociated with bending the pipes and using pipe joints in order toavoid interference between the refrigerant communication pipes can beheld to a minimum.

Also, by drawing the pipes out in the widthwise direction or thedepthwise direction in such a manner that the centers of the refrigerantcommunication pipes are slightly offset from each other in the heightdirection and a portion of the pipes overlap in a plan view and a sideview, the pipe layout can be made more compact (occupy less space) inthe height direction and in the widthwise or depthwise direction. Thiskind of arrangement is particular effective when the two refrigerantcommunication pipes have different pipe diameters.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the outdoor airconditioner unit of the first or second aspects of the present inventionis provided, wherein the first connecting port and second connectingport are offset from each other in the depthwise and widthwisedirections in such a manner that the gaseous and liquid refrigerantcommunication pipes connected to the connecting ports do not interferewith each other even when they are drawn out in the depthwise directionwith their widthwise positions maintained constant and their heightpositions the same. Furthermore, the first connecting port and secondconnecting port are offset from each other in the depthwise andwidthwise directions in such a manner that the gaseous and liquidrefrigerant communication pipes connected to the connecting ports do notinterfere with each other even when they are drawn out in the widthwisedirection with their depthwise positions maintained constant and theirheight positions the same.

Since the first connecting port and second connecting port are amplyoffset from each other in the depthwise and widthwise directions, workassociated with bending the pipes and using pipe joints in order toavoid interference between the refrigerant communication pipes can beheld to a minimum.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the outdoor airconditioner unit of any one of the first to fourth aspects of thepresent invention is provided, wherein the first connecting port and thesecond connecting port are offset by approximately the same distance inboth the depthwise direction and the widthwise direction.

Since the first connecting port and second connecting port are offset byapproximately the same distance in the depthwise direction as in thewidthwise direction, interference between refrigerant communicationpipes drawn out in the depthwise or widthwise direction can besuppressed while reducing the relative distance between the firstconnecting port and the second connecting port and reducing the spaceoccupied by the gas-side shut-off valve and the liquid-side shut-offvalve.

Furthermore, since the first connecting port and second connecting portare offset by approximately the same distance in the depthwise andwidthwise directions, in a plan view a straight line joining the centersof the two connecting ports is oriented at approximately a 45-degreeangle with respect to the panel oriented in the depthwise direction andthe panel oriented in the widthwise direction.

According to a sixth aspects of the present invention, the outdoor airconditioner unit of any one of the first to fifth aspects of the presentinvention is provided, wherein the first connecting port and the secondconnecting port face both face downward. An air conditioner outdoor unitin accordance with claim 6 is also provided with a box-shaped casing andbottom-raising members. The casing covers the gas-side shut-off valveand the liquid-side shut-off valve, and the casing has an opening belowthe gas-side shut-off valve and the liquid-side shut-off valve. Thebottom-raising members serve to secure space between the surface onwhich the outdoor unit is to be installed and the bottom panel of thecasing.

By directing the first connecting port and second connecting portdownward and providing bottom-raising members so as to open a spacebetween the surface on which the outdoor unit is being installed and thebottom panel of the casing, this claim makes it easier to improve theexternal appearance of the outdoor unit by passing the refrigerantcommunication pipes in the space under the casing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a refrigerant circuit diagram of an air conditioning systemthat includes an outdoor unit.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the outdoor unit excluding the casing.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the inside of the outdoor unit.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the arrangement of the gas-sideshut-off valve and the liquid-side shut-off valve of the outdoor unit.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating arrangement of the gas-side shut-offvalve and the liquid-side shut-off valve of the outdoor unit in anotherembodiment.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view as indicated by the arrows VI—VI inFIG. 5.

FIG. 7( a) is a frontal view of a conventional outdoor unit.

FIG. 7( b) is a view as indicated by the arrows b—b in FIG. 7( a).

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

<Constituent Features of the Air Conditioning System>

FIG. 1 shows the refrigerant circuit of an air conditioning system thatincludes an outdoor air conditioner unit in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention. The air conditioning system 1 is amultiple-type air conditioning system for office buildings having oneoutdoor unit 2 and a plurality of indoor units 3 connected in parallel.The refrigerant circuit 10 of the air conditioning system 1 includes acompressor 11, a four-way selector valve 12, an outdoor heat exchanger13, an outdoor expansion valve 14, indoor expansion valves 15, and theindoor heat exchangers 16 connected in sequence and is configured toperform a vapor compression type refrigeration cycle. The compressor 11,four-way selector valve 12, outdoor heat exchanger 13, and outdoorexpansion valve 14 are contained in the outdoor unit 2 and the indoorexpansion valves 15 and indoor heat exchangers 16 are contained in theindoor units 3. The four-way selector valve 12 and the indoor heatexchangers 16 are connected by a gaseous refrigerant communication pipe17 a and the outdoor expansion valve 14 and the indoor expansion valves15 are connected by a liquid refrigerant communication pipe 17 b. Therefrigerant communication pipes 17 a, 17 b are arranged between theoutdoor unit 2 and the indoor unit 3.

The refrigerant circuit of the air conditioning system shown in FIG. 1is a simplification of the actual circuit. For example, the actualcompressor 11 used is often a combination of a variable capacitycompressor whose rotational speed can be controlled with an inverter anda fixed capacity compressor that is controlled in an on-off manner (seeFIG. 3). Additionally, a receiver, an accumulator, and other associateddevices (not shown in the figures) are provided inside the outdoor unit2. The terminal portions of the refrigerant circuit inside the outdoorunit are provided with a gas-side shut-off valve 18 and a liquid-sideshut-off valve 19. The gas-side shut-off valve 18 is arranged on theside where the four-way selector valve 12 is located and the liquid-sideshut-off valve 19 is arranged on the side where the outdoor expansionvalve 14 is located. The gas-side shut-off valve 18 is connected to thegaseous refrigerant communication pipe 17 a and the liquid-side shut-offvalve 19 is connected to the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 17 b.The shut-off valves 18, 19 are in the closed state when the outdoor unit2 and indoor units 3 are installed. The shut-off valves 18, 19 are thenopened after the units 2, 3 are installed onsite and the gaseousrefrigerant communication pipe 17 a and the liquid refrigerant pipecommunication 17 b are connected to the shut-off valves 18, 19.

<Operation of the Air Conditioning System>

The operation of the air conditioning system will now be described.

First, when the system is operated in cooling mode, the four-wayselector valve 12 is held in the state indicated by the solid lines inFIG. 1. High-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant dischargedfrom the compressor 11 passes through the four-way selector valve 12 andinto the outdoor heat exchanger 13, where it is condensed and changed toa liquid by exchanging heat with the outdoor air. The liquefiedrefrigerant passes through the fully open outdoor expansion valve 14 andflows into the indoor units 3 via the liquid refrigerant communicationpipe 17 b. At the indoor units 3, the refrigerant is pressure-reduced bythe indoor expansion valve 15 to a prescribed low pressure andevaporated in the indoor heat exchanger 16 by exchanging heat with theindoor air. Indoor air cooled by the evaporation of the refrigerant isblown into the indoor area (e.g., room or rooms) by an indoor fan (notshown) so as to cool the indoor area. After being evaporated in theindoor heat exchanger 16, the gaseous refrigerant returns to the outdoorunit 2 through the gaseous refrigerant communication pipe 17 a and isdrawn into the compressor 11.

Meanwhile, when the system is operated in heating mode, the four-wayselector valve 12 is held in the state indicated by the broken lines inFIG. 1. High-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant dischargedfrom the compressor 11 passes through the four-way selector valve 12 andinto the indoor heat exchangers 16 of the indoor units 3, where it iscondensed and changed to a liquid by exchanging heat with the indoorair. Indoor air heated by the condensation of the refrigerant is blowninto the indoor area (e.g., room or rooms) by an indoor fan so as toheat the indoor area. The refrigerant liquefied in the indoor heatexchangers 16 passes through the fully open indoor expansion valves 15and returns to the outdoor unit 2 via the liquid refrigerantcommunication pipe 17 b. At the outdoor unit 2, the refrigerant ispressure-reduced by the outdoor expansion valve 14 to a prescribed lowpressure and evaporated in the outdoor heat exchanger 13 by exchangingheat with the outdoor air. After being evaporated in the outdoor heatexchanger 13, the gaseous refrigerant passes through the four-wayselector valve 12 and is drawn into the compressor 11.

During both cooling mode and heating mode, the indoor expansion valves15 of indoor units 3 that are stopped are closed and the refrigerant isnot sent to the indoor heat exchangers 16 of those indoor units 3.

<Constituent Features of the Outdoor Unit>

The outdoor unit 2 will now be described in detail with reference toFIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the outdoor unit 2 withthe casing and outdoor fan removed. FIG. 3 is a plan view lookingdownward from a position approximately midway along the height of theoutdoor unit. In FIG. 2, the shut-off valves 18, 19 are omitted. Theinternal refrigerant piping is also omitted from the figure.

As shown in FIG. 3, the front panel 21, side panel 22, and rear panel 23of the casing are mounted to the outside of support columns 51, 52, 53,54. The four vertical support columns 51 to 54 are fastened together bythe bottom frame 61 located near the bottom end, the horizontal stays 62and the motor support rack 63 located at a top portion. A motor 70 fordriving the outdoor fan (not shown) is mounted to the motor support rack63.

The support columns 51 to 54 extend downward beyond the bottom frame 61.Thus, a space is formed between the bottom frame 61 and the installationsurface (floor surface) after the outdoor unit has been mounted to theinstallation surface. This space is large enough (high enough) to passthe gaseous refrigerant communication pipe 17 a and the liquidrefrigerant communication pipe 17 b. A portion of the bottom end of eachsupport column 51 to 54 is bent inward so as to form a rectangular basefoot 51 a, 52 a, 53 a, 54 a. Each base foot 51 a, 52 a, 53 a, 54 a isprovided with a through hole for inserting a chemical anchor or the liketo secure the outdoor unit 2 to the installation surface.

The bottom frame 61 supports the compressor 11 and the outdoor heatexchanger 13 and also serves to secure the shut-off valves 18, 19through a mounting plate 64. The bottom frame 61 has an opening in theportion thereof below the shut-off valves 18, 19.

<Arrangement of the Shut-Off Valves in the Outdoor Unit>

The gas-side shut-off valve 18 and the liquid-side shut-off valve 19 ofthe outdoor unit 2 are arranged closely adjacent to each other as shownin FIGS. 3 and 4. The gas-side shut-off valve 18 and the liquid-sideshut-off valve 19 are aligned in a direction forming an angle ofapproximately 45 degrees with respect to the front panel 21 and the sidepanel 22 of the casing. Thus, the gas-side shut-off valve 18 and theliquid-side shut-off valve 19 are separated by a distance of L2 and areoffset from each other by a distance of L1 in the widthwise direction(horizontal direction parallel to the front panel 21) and also by adistance of L1 in the depthwise direction (horizontal direction parallelto the side panel 22). The distance L2 is approximately 1.4 times thedistance L1.

The pipe connecting port 18 a of the gas-side shut-off valve 18 and thepipe connecting port 19 a of the liquid-side shut-off valve 19 both facein the same downward direction. Although the shut-off valves 18, 19 areshown with simplified structures in the figures, the shut-off valves 18,19 are constructed to connect to the refrigerant communication pipes 17a, 17 b with a flare nut (or a flange).

By arranging the shut-off valves 18, 19 as just described, the gaseousand liquid refrigerant communication pipes 17 a, 17 b connected to theconnecting ports 18 a, 19 a do not interfere with each other even whenthey are drawn out in the forward direction with their widthwisepositions maintained constant and their height positions (e.g., aposition between the installation surface and the bottom frame 61) thesame (the double-dot chain lines shown in FIG. 4 indicate the pipes 17a, 17 b). Likewise, the gaseous and liquid refrigerant communicationpipes 17 a, 17 b connected to the connecting ports 18 a, 19 a do notinterfere with each other even when they are drawn out in a sidewaysdirection with their depthwise positions maintained constant and theirheight positions the same (the double-dot chain lines shown in FIG. 4indicate the pipes 17 a, 17 b).

Although in the outdoor unit 2 of this embodiment the gas-side shut-offvalve 18 and the liquid-side shut-off valve 19 are arranged as shown inFIGS. 3 and 4, it is also acceptable for the positions of the gas-sideshut-off valve 18 and the liquid-side shut-off valve 19 to be reversed.

<Characteristic Features of an Outdoor Air Conditioner Unit inAccordance with This Embodiment

(1)

In conventional outdoor units, the pipe connecting port of the gas-sideshut-off valve and the pipe connecting port of the liquid-side shut-offvalve are aligned in either the depthwise direction along the side panelof the casing or the widthwise direction along the front panel of thecasing. Consequently, when the connecting ports are aligned in thedepthwise direction, the refrigerant communication pipes will interferewith each other if they are drawn out in the depthwise direction at thesame height from the connecting ports. Meanwhile, when the connectingports are aligned in the widthwise direction, the refrigerantcommunication pipes will interfere with each other if they are drawn outin the widthwise direction at the same height from the connecting ports.

Conversely, in an outdoor unit 2 in accordance with this embodiment, thepipe connecting port 18 a of the gas-side shut-off valve 18 and the pipeconnecting port 19 a of the liquid-side shut-off valve 19 are offsetfrom each other by a distance L1 in both the depthwise direction and thewidthwise direction in a plan view. Likewise, the gaseous and liquidrefrigerant communication pipes 17 a, 17 b do not interfere with eachother even when they are drawn out from the connecting ports 18 a, 19 ain a depthwise direction or a widthwise direction in such a manner thattheir height positions underneath the bottom frame 61 are the same. As aresult, work associated with bending the refrigerant communication pipes17 a, 17 b and using pipe joints can be held to a minimum.

(2)

In an outdoor unit 2 in accordance with this embodiment, the pipeconnecting port 18 a of the gas-side shut-off valve 18 and the pipeconnecting port 19 a of the liquid-side shut-off valve 19 are offsetfrom each other by the same distance L1 in both the depthwise directionand the widthwise direction. As a result, the relative distance L2between the connecting ports 18 a, 19 a can be reduced and the spaceoccupied by the gas-side shut-off valve 18 and the liquid-side shut-offvalve 19 inside the casing can be reduced.

Moreover, the work space is the same as in conventional outdoor unitsbecause the actual relative distance L2 between the shut-off valves isno smaller than in conventional outdoor units in which the shut-offvalves are arranged in the depthwise direction or the widthwisedirection; that is, when viewed diagonally the distance between theshut-off valves 18, 19 is the same as in conventional outdoor units.

(3)

In an outdoor unit 2 in accordance with this embodiment, the pipeconnecting port 18 a of the gas-side shut-off valve 18 and the pipeconnecting port 19 a of the liquid-side shut-off valve 19 both facedownward in the same manner. As a result, it is easier to applythermally insulating tape to both refrigerant communication pipes 17 a,17 b at the same time and to cover them with a decorative metal plate.

(4)

In an outdoor unit 2 in accordance with this embodiment, the pipeconnecting port 18 a of the gas-side shut-off valve 18 and the pipeconnecting port 19 a of the liquid-side shut-off valve 19 both facedownward and portions of the support columns 51 to 54 extend downwardbeyond the bottom frame 61 such that a space is formed between thebottom frame 61 and the surface on which the outdoor unit 2 isinstalled. As a result, the refrigerant communication pipes 17 a, 17 bcan be passed through the space and the external appearance of theoutdoor unit can be improved.

Other Embodiments

In the previously described embodiment, the gas-side shut-off valve 18and the liquid-side shut-off valve 19 are arranged so as to be orientedat a 45-degree angle with respect to both the front panel 21 and theside panel 22 of the casing. As a result, even when the gaseous andliquid refrigerant communication pipes 17 a, 17 b connected to theconnecting ports 18 a, 19 a are drawn out in the forward direction or asideways direction in such a manner that their widthwise positions aremaintained constant and their height positions are the same, the gaseousand liquid refrigerant pipes 17 a, 17 b do not interfere with each otherbecause they are separated from each other in a plan view.

Instead arranging the shut-off valves 18, 19 as shown in FIG. 4,however, it is also possible to arrange the shut-off valves 18, 19 asshown in FIG. 5.

In the arrangement of the shut-off valves 18, 19 shown in FIG. 5, thegas-side shut-off valve 18 and the liquid-side shut-off valve 19 areoffset from each other by a distance L3 in the widthwise direction(horizontal direction parallel to the front panel 21) and a distance L4in the depthwise direction (horizontal direction parallel to the sidepanel 22). The distance L3 is set such that when the pipes 17 a, 17 bare drawn out in the forward direction without bending the pipes to theleft or right, the pipes 17 a, 17 b will be separated from each otherand not overlap in a plan view. The distance L4 is set to acomparatively small distance such that when the pipes 17 a, 17 b aredrawn out in a sideways direction without bending the pipes to theforward or rearward, the pipes 17 a, 17 b will partially overlap in aplan view.

Therefore, here, as shown in FIG. 6, when the gaseous and liquidrefrigerant pipes 17 a, 17 b are drawn out sideways from the shut-offvalves 18, 19 without bending them forward or rearward, the centers ofthe pipes 17 a, 17 b are offset from each other in the height directionby a distance L5 and the pipes 17 a, 17 b are drawn out sideways in sucha manner that they partially overlap in a plan view. As a result, thepipes 17 a, 17 b can be drawn out in a sideways direction from theshut-off valves 18, 19 without bending the pipes 17 a, 17 b or usingpipe joints and the horizontal space occupied by the pipes 17 a, 17 bcan be reduced. Meanwhile, although the centers of the pipes 17 a, 17 bare offset slightly (distance L5) in the height direction, as shown inFIG. 6, the pipes 17 a, 17 b are only partially overlapped in a sideview and the heights of the pipes 17 a, 17 b can be set to besubstantially the same. Consequently, the space occupied by the pipes 17a, 17 b in the height direction is reduced and the pipes 17 a, 17 b canbe passed through the gap between the bottom frame and the installationsurface of the outdoor unit, even when said gap is small.

APPLICABILITY TO INDUSTRY

In an outdoor air conditioner unit in accordance with the presentinvention, the first connecting port and the second connecting port areoffset from each other in both the depthwise direction and the widthwisedirection of the outdoor unit in a plan view. The connecting ports areoffset by a sufficient amount that the refrigerant communication pipesdo not interfere with each other in a plan view when they are drawn outfrom the connecting ports in the depthwise direction or in the widthwisedirection. Thus, when an outdoor air conditioner unit in accordance withthe present invention is used, the refrigerant communication pipes willnot interfere with each other in cases where the refrigerantcommunication pipes are drawn out from the connecting ports in thedepthwise direction at the same height or in cases where the refrigerantcommunication pipes are drawn out from the connecting ports in thewidthwise direction at the same height.

1. An outdoor air conditioner unit configured to be connected to anindoor unit by a gaseous refrigerant communication pipe and a liquidrefrigerant communication pipe, the outdoor air conditioner unitcomprising: a gas-side shut-off valve having a first connecting portconfigured to be connected to the gaseous refrigerant communicationpipe; and a liquid-side shut-off valve having a second connecting portconfigured to be connected to the liquid refrigerant communication pipe;the first and second connecting ports being configured and arranged asview in a plan view such that the first and second connecting ports areoffset from each other in both depthwise direction and widthwisedirection.
 2. The outdoor air conditioner unit as recited in claim 1,wherein the first and second connecting ports both face in a firstdirection.
 3. The outdoor air conditioner unit as recited in claim 1,wherein the first and second connecting ports are offset from each otherin the depthwise and widthwise directions such that: the gaseous andliquid refrigerant communication pipes connected to the first and secondconnecting ports do not interfere with each other even when drawn out inthe depthwise direction while maintaining widthwise positions of thegaseous and liquid refrigerant communication pipes constant and heightpositions of the gaseous and liquid refrigerant communication pipesbeing arranged such that the gaseous and liquid refrigerantcommunication pipes overlap partially in a side elevational view; andthe gaseous and liquid refrigerant communication pipes connected to thefirst and second connecting ports do not interfere with each other evenwhen drawn out in the widthwise direction while maintaining constantdepthwise positions of the gaseous and liquid refrigerant communicationpipes constant and the height positions of the gaseous and liquidrefrigerant communication pipes being arranged such that the gaseous andliquid refrigerant communication pipes overlap partially in a sideelevational view.
 4. The outdoor air conditioner unit as recited inclaim 1, wherein the first and second connecting ports are offset fromeach other in the depthwise and the widthwise directions such that: thegaseous and liquid refrigerant communication pipes connected to thefirst and second connecting ports do not interfere with each other evenwhen drawn out in the depthwise direction while maintaining widthwisepositions of the gaseous and liquid refrigerant communication pipesconstant and height positions of the gaseous and liquid refrigerantcommunication pipes being the same; and the gaseous and liquidrefrigerant communication pipes connected to the first and secondconnecting ports do not interfere with each other even when drawn out inthe widthwise direction while maintaining depthwise positions of thegaseous and liquid refrigerant communication pipes constant and heightpositions of the gaseous and liquid refrigerant communication pipesbeing the same.
 5. The outdoor air conditioner unit as recited in claim1, wherein the first and second connecting ports are offset byapproximately the same distance in both the depthwise direction and thewidthwise direction.
 6. The outdoor air conditioner unit as recited inclaim 1, further comprising a box-shaped casing covering the gas-sideshut-off valve and the liquid-side shut-off valve and having an openingbelow the gas-side shut-off valve and the liquid-side shut-off valve;and a plurality of bottom-raising members serving to maintain a spacebetween a surface on which the outdoor unit is to be installed and abottom panel of the casing, the first and second connecting ports facedownward.
 7. The outdoor air conditioner unit as recited in claim 2,wherein the first and second connecting ports are offset from each otherin the depthwise and widthwise directions such that: the gaseous andliquid refrigerant communication pipes connected to the first and secondconnecting ports do not interfere with each other even when drawn out inthe depthwise direction while maintaining widthwise positions of thegaseous and liquid refrigerant communication pipes constant and heightpositions of the gaseous and liquid refrigerant communication pipesbeing arranged such that the gaseous and liquid refrigerantcommunication pipes overlap partially in a side elevational view; andthe gaseous and liquid refrigerant communication pipes connected to thefirst and second connecting ports do not interfere with each other evenwhen drawn out in the widthwise direction while maintaining constantdepthwise positions of the gaseous and liquid refrigerant communicationpipes constant and the height positions of the gaseous and liquidrefrigerant communication pipes being arranged such that the gaseous andliquid refrigerant communication pipes overlap partially in a sideelevational view.
 8. The outdoor air conditioner unit as recited inclaim 2, wherein the first and second connecting ports are offset fromeach other in the depthwise and the widthwise directions such that: thegaseous and liquid refrigerant communication pipes connected to thefirst and second connecting ports do not interfere with each other evenwhen drawn out in the depthwise direction while maintaining widthwisepositions of the gaseous and liquid refrigerant communication pipesconstant and height positions of the gaseous and liquid refrigerantcommunication pipes being the same; and the gaseous and liquidrefrigerant communication pipes connected to the first and secondconnecting ports do not interfere with each other even when drawn out inthe widthwise direction while maintaining depthwise positions of thegaseous and liquid refrigerant communication pipes constant and heightpositions of the gaseous and liquid refrigerant communication pipesbeing the same.
 9. The outdoor air conditioner unit as recited in claim2, wherein the first and second connecting ports are offset byapproximately the same distance in both the depthwise direction and thewidthwise direction.
 10. The outdoor air conditioner as recited in claim2, further comprising a box-shaped casing covering the gas-side shut-offvalve and the liquid-side shut-off valve and having an opening below thegas-side shut-off valve and the liquid-side shut-off valve; and aplurality of bottom-raising members serving to maintain a space betweena surface on which the outdoor unit is to be installed and a bottompanel of the casing, the first and second connecting ports facedownward.
 11. The outdoor air conditioner unit as recited in claim 3,wherein the first and second connecting ports are offset byapproximately the same distance in both the depthwise direction and thewidthwise direction.
 12. The outdoor air conditioner as recited in claim3, further comprising a box-shaped casing covering the gas-side shut-offvalve and the liquid-side shut-off valve and having an opening below thegas-side shut-off valve and the liquid-side shut-off valve; and aplurality of bottom-raising members serving to maintain a space betweena surface on which the outdoor unit is to be installed and a bottompanel of the casing, the first and second connecting ports facedownward.
 13. The outdoor air conditioner unit as recited in claim 4,wherein the first and second connecting ports are offset byapproximately the same distance in both the depthwise direction and thewidthwise direction.
 14. The outdoor air conditioner as recited in claim4, further comprising a box-shaped casing covering the gas-side shut-offvalve and the liquid-side shut-off valve and having an opening below thegas-side shut-off valve and the liquid-side shut-off valve; and aplurality of bottom-raising members serving to maintain a space betweena surface on which the outdoor unit is to be installed and a bottompanel of the casing, the first and second connecting ports facedownward.
 15. The outdoor air conditioner as recited in claim 5, furthercomprising a box-shaped casing covering the gas-side shut-off valve andthe liquid-side shut-off valve and having an opening below the gas-sideshut-off valve and the liquid-side shut-off valve; and a plurality ofbottom-raising members serving to maintain a space between a surface onwhich the outdoor unit is to be installed and a bottom panel of thecasing, the first and second connecting ports face downward.